Brightest Stars Of TAC

[Lumpy Darkness]

There are certainly a lot, going back over 25+ years.  Cleaning out a cabinet yesterday I came across a shoebox of photos.  Been a long time since we've posted people pics.  Here's a true  TAC bright star (still around, living in central CA).  Called him my brother from a different mother, Rashad, the one and only, holding court at a star party!

Lots of good times back then, and still ahead!

[Lumpy Darkness]

Here's another, culled from online sources.  At SSP many new moons ago!

Comments?

[Peter Natscher]

Here's a few more great TAC'os!

Steve Gottlieb, GSSP 2013

Jimi Lowrey, GSSP 2016

Alvin Huey (standing), Marsha Robinson, Bob Czerwinski (seated left), GSSP 2013

[Lumpy Darkness]

Who's this young guy with "Peter's Ceravolo"?

[Peter Natscher]

1997 at the Fremont Peak Observatory parking lot?  No observing pads built yet.  The big Coulter Pine behind me was still there blocking the SE horizon. I miss that telescope and my hair  ;))

[Lumpy Darkness]

Speaking of hair, how about young Brad Franzella's (at left )? Remember how he joined TAC?  He was probably the youngest non-family member (someone's kid) TACo - just 16.  This was at an early Lassen Star Party.

[Akarsh Simha]

Apparently the earliest photo of Steve I could find in my email was from GSSP 2016, although I first met him in 2014 at Jimi’s place along with two other great TAC’os: Bob Douglas and Alan Agrawal. Note that this was before I moved to the Bay Area or became a bonafide TAC’o myself.

I’ve said this many times, Steve has been the mentor-in-absentia since 2008, even before I knew I would end up in the USA let alone California observing with. I even bought a 17.5” because one Mr. Gottlieb used this aperture to do some great things, so surely I could too if I had a 17.5” (hahaha).

A 17.5”, Yelagiri, India; 2010

Steve, Alan and Bob were the first TAC’os I met, that is unless you give Jimi honorary TAC’o status. I feel new and left out of all the old fun y’all are talking about.

Let it be known that TAC is a great powerhouse of astronomy. Albert Highe (wasn’t he a TAC’o) who I never had the fortune of meeting will be remembered through his books, which hopefully some day I can get a copy of.

Regards

Akarsh

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[Peter Natscher]

Here's the TAC gang on August 1, 2003 up at Lassen, Summit Lake South camping area, celebrating a Alan Nelm's Star Party. I think this was the last one.

[Lumpy Darkness]

LOL!  Colombian born Guillermo Ortiz seated at right, one time said to me "I'm gonna teach you to espeak Spanich"....   Here...  "Yo quiero Taco Bell!"....

What a group.  The Lassen trips were superb, even with the wild ride back to camp from Bumpass.  The sky transparency when at its best was unbeatable.

And yes, we do need a good photo of Albert the Magnificent.

[Lumpy Darkness]

Since Akarsh didn't have an earlier photo of Steve "The Oracle of NGC"...  perhaps this will do.  Before the days of color film?

[Lumpy Darkness]

How about another star of TAC.  Is there anything Richard Ozer doesn't do?

[Lumpy Darkness]

Another of the brightest stars (those who made TAC vibrant):

Michelle Stone:

Protege of Albert Highe taking his innovative telescope designs into her still coveted Plettstone Telescope.  And an early adopter/contributor to our group's deep sky trips.